Irrigation conduit and system

Abstract

An irrigation conduit for sub ground irrigation, methods for fabrication the conduit and irrigation systems comprising the same. The irrigation conduit comprises one or more elongated water-impermeable plastic strips joined to form a sleeve, wherein at least one of the strips comprises a plurality of water transmitting ceramic windows spaced along its length. The water transmitting ceramic windows are having an internal structure comprising vacuoles and a network of channels connecting between the vacuoles.

1 . An irrigation conduit for sub ground irrigation, the conduit comprising one or more elongated water-impermeable plastic strips joined along their elongated sides to form a sleeve wherein at least one of said one or more strips comprises a plurality of water transmitting ceramic windows spaced along its length, said water transmitting ceramic windows are having an internal structure comprising vacuoles and a network of channels connecting between said vacuoles. 
     
     
         2 . The irrigation conduit of  claim 1  wherein said conduit is manufactured as a flat sleeve and is configured to assume and maintain an open tubular form when filled with water at a sufficient pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The irrigation conduit of  claim 1  wherein the conduit comprises more than two plastic strips and wherein the conduit has a polygonal cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The irrigation conduit of  claim 1  wherein the internal structure of said water transmitting ceramic windows is similar to the internal structure of soil. 
     
     
         5 . The irrigation conduit of  claim 1  wherein the average diameter of said vacuoles is in the range of 0.1 to 3 mm diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The irrigation conduit of  claim 1  wherein the average diameter of said channels is in the range of 1μ to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The irrigation conduit of  claim 1  wherein relative total void volume in the material is in the range of 20% to 60%. 
     
     
         8 . An irrigation system for continuously and efficiently supplying water to roots of plants, the irrigation system comprising at least one irrigation conduit according to  claim 1  buried in soil adjacent to the plants' roots and at least one water reservoir of a constant water level in fluid communication with said at least one irrigation conduit for providing hydrostatic pressure to said irrigation conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The irrigation system of  claim 8  further comprising a vertically movable pressure adjustment water container interposed between said at least one water reservoir and said at least one irrigation conduit. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing an irrigation conduit, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming an elongated strip of water impermeable material;   cutting openings along the length of said strip;   attaching water permeable ceramic plates to said strip to cover said openings; and   forming a sleeve from one or more strips by joining longitudinal edges of said one or more strips.